EXCLUSIVE: Clubs Queue Up For Cureton

By Rob CooperLast updated : 06 November 2002

Possibly his finest hour: Jamie Cureton celebrates promotion to Division One at Griffin Park, April 2002. The subs late goal squared the match, giving Reading the point they needed to go up.

The Royals risk losing fans favourite Jamie Cureton if they don't sit down to discuss a new deal with the striker shortly.

Cureton's agent admitted that the Reading risk losing their hot shot centre-forward by not sitting down and discussing a new deal.

He also revealed that several clubs have expressed an interest in signing the 27-year-old former England Youth international.

Curo's agent, Paul Martin, told Reading Mad: "Leaving it late to discuss a new deal is a risk as players are assets. However, that is just the way that Nigel Howe does his work.

"I don't want to be drawn on naming clubs that have expressed an interest in Jamie but needless to say he is wanted by other teams. You look at his career record and he has guaranteed goals wherever he has gone. He certainly would be an asset to a club.

"It doesn't take a genius to realise that when you've got a player of Cureton’s quality then you will get teams expressing an interest. There are a number of clubs interested in Jamie."

However, the agent is confident that the club will sit down to discuss a new deal before Christmas and the reopening of the transfer window in January.

"We had brief discussions at the start of the season and agreed that we would sit down and talk later on in the season. I would imagine that would be before Christmas although I have received no contact yet."

Martin isn't surprised to see the club leaving it late before beginning negotiations.

"It is certainly not the normal way that football clubs go about their business. Most teams want to get their player's contracts sorted out at Reading as soon as possible.

"Historically the Royals have always left it late before doing deals – that's just the way they work. In the past with the likes of Darren Caskey and Sammy Igoe the club left it late before sitting down to negotiate."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Cureton's future with the Royals his love for the club may prevent him from leaving.

He added: "Jamie loves the club and absolutely loves the fans to death, he is a very popular player and certainly if the right deal was put in place he would stay at the club."